Attorney admits he bribed city councilman

[Algorem]

Attorney admits he bribed city councilman

http://www.cleveland.com/ohio/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1114680775175550.xml

Thursday, April 28, 2005

John Caniglia and Mike Tobin
Plain Dealer Reporters

Attorney Ricardo Teamor admitted Wednesday that he bribed Cleveland City Councilman Joseph Jones to gain favors after political opponents of former Mayor Michael R. White stripped Teamor of his lucrative bond work with the city.

Teamor pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to two charges of conspiracy to commit bribery and agreed to cooperate against his good friend Nate Gray, Jones and any other public official who might be implicated in the conspiracy case.

Teamor was a member of White's inner circle, a group that included Gray, the best man at White's weddings. Oliver Spellman, who worked for White as the director of parks, also has pleaded guilty to charges involving bribes Gray gave him for contracts in Houston, where Spellman was chief of staff after he left Cleveland. Next month, Gray and three others are scheduled for trial before Judge James Gwin. The case involves a nationwide scheme to steer contracts to Gray's clients and businesses.

Teamor, 58, of Cleveland, faces up to two years in prison when Gwin sentences him July 15.........